US special envoy Kerry set to visit China for climate talks

By Necva Tastan

ISTANBUL (AA) – US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will visit China over the weekend for discussions with Chinese officials on climate change cooperation.

During his four-day trip, Kerry will meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinhua to address the climate crisis, including with respect to the upcoming COP28, said a statement by the US State Department.

Beijing also confirmed the trip from July 16 to 19.

The 2023 UN Climate Change Conference, more commonly referred to as Conference of the Parties or COP28, will be the 28th conference to be held from Nov. 30 until Dec. 12, 2023, at the Expo City, Dubai.

Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment said the two sides will have an “in-depth exchange of views on working to address climate change.”

Kerry is the third top US official to visit China since June.

Janet Yellen, US treasury chief, concluded her trip last Sunday and said that despite having "significant" disagreements, her country and China can work together on global challenges – from tackling the climate crisis to addressing sovereign debt sustainability and wider economic cooperation.

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing last month where he met President Xi Jinping.